Tzav

📜 The Story

Tzav keeps teaching the Kohanim (the priests) how to bring the offerings in the Tabernacle. 'Tzav' means 'command.' In this parsha Moses commands Aaron and his sons about their important job.

The Torah describes the olah, the offering that stayed on the altar all night, and the fire that had to keep burning on the altar. The Torah says, 'A fire must always burn on the altar. It must not go out.' Every morning a Kohen put on special clothes and cleared the ashes off the altar.

Then the parsha teaches about the minchah, made of fine flour and oil, the chatat, which brings forgiveness for mistakes, and the asham. It also teaches about the shelamim, the peace offering. One kind of shelamim is the thanksgiving offering, brought by someone who wanted to thank God for saving them. Forty loaves of bread were brought along with it.

At the end of the parsha, Moses makes Aaron and his sons into Kohanim. He dresses them in the priests' clothes, anoints them with the special oil, and brings a ram as an offering. Moses puts a little of its blood on the right ear, the right thumb and the right big toe of Aaron and his sons.

For seven days, Aaron and his sons stay at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and do not leave. They are getting ready for the eighth day, when they will start serving in the Tabernacle. The parsha teaches us to do every part of serving God carefully and with respect.